Martin “Marty” Kenny, one of the core founders of The Weekly Fight, is someone whose actions speak louder than words.
The Weekly Fight—a nonprofit organization that meets every Sunday to help combat veterans deal with PTSD through exercise—is a real-world solution to a real-world problem. The organization’s mission is simple: to help veterans with PTSD, as well as their spouses and families. Through a partnership with CrossFit Inspire in Frazer, Marty has been able to structure a program that helps soldiers, their spouses and families in need.
The life of a soldier and training for the battlefield are extraordinarily tough, and the transition back to civilian life can be even tougher. With over two decades of military service, the now retired Sergeant Major Kenny is familiar with both sides. That’s why The Weekly Fight is based on giving each veteran a mission. Each weekly workout, or “mission,” fills veterans with a familiar sense of purpose that can help them carry a sense of stability through the transition back to being stateside.
The workouts offer therapeutic benefits through avenues familiar to soldiers: camaraderie, physical training and personal achievement via a defined objective. Each workout is dedicated to a service member who lost his or her life to a PTSD-related suicide. The focus, however, is on “the contributions they made as a service member and afterward … and their family,” as Marty puts it.
“Those are the things I talk about before the workout,” Marty continued. “What’s happened is we’ve changed the focus of the Marines who come to us to helping the surviving members of those we’ve lost. … That’s their new mission.” Through fundraisers, The Weekly Fight has been able to help a number of families in need, and these first victories are just the start of more to come.
Out of each workout a sense of community is born, where participants can reach out to each other for bonds of support. Marty puts it plainly, “The whole premise that I wanted to start this around was creating a sense of community for veterans and their families. One of the big things that gets missed is the trauma that the spouses go through. … Here spouses can have someone to talk to that understands what they’re going through.”
The Weekly Fight aims at helping the community at large, workout by workout and event by event. In doing so, the organization is able to raise money for an important cause, as well as awareness about an issue facing soldiers and their loved ones every day.
What’s the latest mission? If you make your way to the upcoming October 15 Victory KSQ Mushroom Cap 13.1 half marathon in Kennett Square, you’ll get a glimpse. The race will have many runners striving for personal records, among them a platoon of combat veterans representing The Weekly Fight. “We’ll be running in formation,” says Marty. “We’ll be in uniform with PT gear. We’ll carry National colors and we’re going to do a cadence run the whole way through it.”
The Weekly Fight will have a booth at the race alongside other organizations and race sponsors. In addition, the race is offering discounted registration to all active U.S. military and veterans. Sponsors for the race include Anchor life + fitness and Zommick McMahon Commercial Real Estate as well as Victory Brewing Company.
The mission at Kennett Square’s premier half marathon is a part of The Weekly Fight’s commitment to supporting an integrated local community. “Getting a veteran assimilated back into hanging out with people and communicating is an important part of their social network,” Marty relates. “So we’ve opened up workouts to civilians, and ask for a $10 donation if they’re not a veteran or gym member. We have people who come in just because they want to support on the civilian side.”
The Weekly Fight’s core mission is to help people, like so many great causes that open up our hearts and minds to each other as people who belong to one planet. To find out how to support The Weekly Fight, visit the organization’s website and Facebook page.
The Victory KSQ Mushroom Cap 13.1 is looking for volunteers to help the event run smoothly. Can you lend a hand? Sign up online to be a part of this community-focused event.
Want to get in on the fun without the run? Tickets are available for the post-race party at Celebration Square. Victory’s Biergarten, local food trucks, live music, activities and a kids’ zone will all open at 10 a.m. Beer, food and activities will end at 4 p.m. Shuttle services will be provided throughout the day. Find out more and get your tickets online!
